LSU basketball coach Trent Johnson's program is starting to show progress in climbing out of a two-year hole. This is no time for him to get sentimental, even when "family" comes to town.

Patrick Semansky/The Associated PressLSU head coach Trent Johnson

Johnson is fond of Georgia Coach Mark Fox, to the point he talks of his dislike of playing against his former associate. But there's plenty at stake for the Tigers when they meet the Bulldogs tonight at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center at 7 p.m.

Mired in ninth place in the Southeastern Conference little more than a week ago, LSU (16-10, 6-6) now is tied for fourth and with a favorable schedule the rest of the way. It's conceivable that the Tigers could win out and wind up 10-6 in conference play, with a bye in the SEC Tournament on March 8-11 at the New Orleans Arena.

An NIT berth is well within reach and the NCAA Tournament an outside possibility.

Of the remaining four foes -- Georgia, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Auburn -- only the Volunteers (6-6) don't have a losing record in SEC play, and they come to the PMAC next Wednesday. Georgia comes in struggling.

"It's the next game on the schedule, but it's tough," Johnson said of going against Fox for the third time. "I know how important it is to him, and I'm pretty sure he knows how important it is to me as far as competing. We've spent a lot of time together. He has a job to do as well. I like playing people I don't like as opposed to playing people I have a lot of respect for."

Johnson got Fox into the coaching business, recommending him for a graduate assistant's job at Washington in 1991 and introducing Fox to his future wife, the former Cindy Holt. Fox was Johnson's associate head coach from 2000 to 2004 at Nevada and replaced him when Johnson got the Stanford head-coaching job.

"There's a relationship there built off a lot of hard work, trust, loyalty and commitment," Johnson said. "To me it's about making sure we do the things we've done all year long, and make sure we don't get caught up in trying to overthink this or overanalyze it. He knows me too well, and I think I know him a little bit, too."

The Bulldogs played a strong first half against Vanderbilt and forced 20 turnovers, but poor shooting sank Georgia to 3-9 in the SEC. Fox's team shot 29.4 percent (10 of 34) in the second half and 36.4 for the game. For the season, the Bulldogs are shooting 39.2 percent.

"I think they're pressing a little bit," Fox said. "They know it has been a little bit of an issue, and they are making it harder. They need to see the ball go through the net. When you are confident you see a bigger basket. Right now we're not seeing a bigger basket."

LSU is moving in the other direction. The Tigers matched their SEC season-best 49 percent shooting in winning at South Carolina on Saturday, including 57.1 in the second half. It was LSU's first SEC road victory of the season.

"We know in the SEC every game is a tough game," said forward Justin Hamilton, who led LSU with 18 points. "Any time you get a road win, it's a big confidence booster. Showing we can beat any team at any level has been a big help to the younger guys, showing we can win."

Building confidence will serve LSU well for a stretch run. The past two seasons the Tigers went a combined 22-41 overall and 5-27 in SEC play, finishing last both times.

Johnson has gone out of his way to keep his team thinking only of the next game, which wasn't as hard in January when they went 2-5. With a chance for its first postseason trip in three years, Johnson is confident his players can handle the new ground being broken.

"I don't think I have to talk to the guys about what's in front of us," Johnson said. "(LSU forward) Storm (Warren) said it best: 'We don't want to slip up again.' He's been in some situations where he doesn't want to go back. Last year and the year before there was some slipping.

"The bottom line is you know what you need to do, what you're capable of doing. Players make plays. Teams win games. Don't let anything on the outside, selfishness within in us, don't let anyone step out of character. Let's continue to rely on and trust each other and let the chips fall where they may."